Traffic signal



July 29, 1930. I F. c. VOGLER TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l flank C V6 Ze'r July 29, 1930.

F. C. VOGLER TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 16, 19:50 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nan]? (1%0' la."

ticularly defined.

Patented July 29, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FRANK CLAMPE'IT VOGLER, OF .SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TRAFFIC SIGNAL Application filed January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,277.

This invention relates to traffic signals of the type embodying a casing embedded in the ground and a display top mounted in the upper end of the casing. and disposed so as .5 to be visible to oncoming traffic. The object of the invention is to providean improved construction which will increase the durability and strength of the device while providing for the easy downward movement 10 whena vehicle happens to pass over it and its immediate returnto normal position after the vehicle has passed. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described and par- In the drawings: t 1

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a traific signal embodying the'in vention, i a i t Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on 33 of Fig. 2, j I i Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one segment of the top or roof of the casing, and

Fig. 5 is a detail section throughv the joint between two adjoining segments In carrying out the invention, there is provided a cylindrical casingl which isburied in theground upon a firm, foundation and has its upper end substantially flush with the the line surfaceof the road, as shown at 2 in Fig. 2..

Disposed centrally-within the casing 1 is a r socket or bearing member 3 and this bearing or socket member is connected with the bottom of the casing by flaring posts 4 formed integrally therewith and also formed integral with the bottom of the casing, the side walls of the casing being reinforced by ribs 5 formed integral therewith and disposed in radial alinement with the. respective posts, as will be understood most readily upon reference to Fig. 3. The upper ends of the ribs 5 merge into a flange 6 extending around the entire inner surface of the sides of the casing and disposed in the same horizontal plane with theupper end of the socket member 3. The hearing or socket member 3 is of circular contour, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and

has a non-circular opening 7 formed centralgage the corresponding, ribs or track sections ly through its bottom web; Disposed within the casing and resting at its edge upon'the flange or rib 6 is a disk or carrier 8 formed at its center withaa depending hub member 9 fitting within the socket 3 and having an annular shoulder 10 at a point intermediate" its height to rest on theupper edge of the socket member whereby the carrier disk will be firmly supported. The hub 9 has a lower .bore 11 of the same non-circular contour as the opening 7 through the bottom of the socket or hearing member and alined axially therewith, while in the upper portion of the hub is an enlargedannular chamber or re cess 12. A post 13 of non-circular form'and corresponding in shape and dimensions to the bore 11 and the opening 7 is fitted in the bore 11 so that it may move vertically but cannot rotate therein and this post is provided 1 at its upper endwith a head 14, an expansion spring 15 being disposed around the post and having one end seated in the recess 12 and its opposite end bearing against the under side of the head 14 whereby the post will be yieldably held in its raised normal position. The marginal portion of the carrier disk 8 is beveled or inclined, as shown at 16, and at regular intervals around the circumferential extent of the disk on the upper surface of the i beveled portion are short ribs or track members 17. Disposed about thepost are segments 18 which are preferably metal plates ofrhomboidal outline provided at their upper ends with balls or spherical projections 19 resting in correspondingly shaped recesses or seats formed in the upper side of the head 14. On the under sides of these segments at the lower edges of the same are heels 20 across which are formed central notches 21 adapted to enl 1'7 and thereby guide the segments in their movements, it being noted that the heels 20 rest upon the carrier disk and are normally disposed at the upper ends of the several track sections; A cap 22 issecured upon the upper end of the post 13 and extends over the upper end portions ofthe severalsegments, a washer or gasket 23 of packing material being interposedbetween the margin of the "cap and the upper ends of the several segof the casing.

in actual practice the casing 1 will be provided with suitable openings and outlet connections whereby to effect drainage of any moisture which may find its way into the interior upon the upper edge of the sides of the casing and a packer of rubber or other suitable material is disposed against the under side of this cap ring and held by and between the same and the casing so as to extend over the lower ends of the several segments 18 and thereby prevent the entrance of water to the casing.

WVhile the segments may be entirely free of each other, I preferto close the side joints between adjoining segments and for this purpose each segment has a longitudinal groove 26 formed in each side edge and in the corresponding grooves in the opposed edges of the segments are fitted the side members of an inverted T-shaped packing strip 27. This packing strip may also be of rubber and will flexibly connect the adjoining sections so that they may have relative movement to yield to the impact of a vehicle wheel while at the same time they will be so connected as to effectually prevent the entrance of moisture.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4c, projections 28 are formed on the upper side of several of the segments andthese projections are so shaped as to form letters whereby a word of warning or direction will be displayed when the several parts are properly assen1- bled, the word Stop being illustrated; Each segment is provided nearits upper end with a recess 29 against the upper wall of which is secured a reflector 30 so that.v when a vehicle approaches the device at night, the rays of light from the headlight of the vehicle will be reflected so as to attract the attention of thechauffeur and cause him to proceed cautiously. The reflecting lenses may be given distinctive colors whereby to be more readily observed. 7 V

It will be understood that the device is to be buried at the intersection of streets or other highways with boulevards, or in the vicinity of schools or hospitals so as to insure caution upon the part of approaching vehicle operators and the word displayed on the signal may be appropriate to its location. Should a vehicle be so driven as tocause its wheels to pass onto the signal, the weight of the Vehicle will cause the several segments to move downwardly and this movement will be imparted to the post 13 so that all the segments will be carried downwardly to the same extent and, consequently, the device will not offer an obstruction which will create a traftic jam or damage a vehicle skidding or otherwise passing onto or over it. As soon as A cap ring 24; is also secured the vehicle has passed from the device, the expansion spring 15 will return the post to its upper normal position and restore the segments to their respective normal positions. It will be notedthat the upper ends of the segments have a ball and socket connection with the head of the post so that they may move freely when the weight of a vehicle is imposed thereon. The lower ends of the several segments will be firmly supported by the carrier disk Sand they may move outwardly and downwardly upon the beveled marginal casing and is not, therefore, exposed to chance blows. If it should be necessary to replace one of the segments 18, all that needs to be done is to remove the cap screw which secures the cap '22 upon the head of the post, whereupon the segment may be at once lifted from its operative position. The formation of the heel at the lower end of each segment provides a firm support for the segment and yet permits the same to move upon the carrier disk readily and with minimum frictional wear. if preferred. the sockets 29 may have glazed bottoms and lamps; may be installed in the casing to shine through the sockets and positively illuminate the device at night, as is obvious. v l i V avi-ng thus described the invention, I claim: I Y

1. A signal device comprising a casing. a post disposed centrally within the casing and held against relative rotation but mounted to slide vertically, and a plurality of display segments having their upper ends hingedly supported at the upper end of the post and their lower ends slidably mounted within the casing.

2. A signal devicecomprising a casing, a carrier mounted within the casingand having a central noncircular opening, a post fitted slidably in said'opening and having the'same cross sectional outline whereby to be held against relative rotation, and a plurality of display segments having their upper ends hingedly connected with the upper end of the post and their lower ends slidably supported by the carrier.

3. A signal device comprising a' casing having a central bearing member provided 7 with a circular socket in its upper side and a non-circular opening through its bottom axially alined with said socket, a carrier hav- 7 ing a hub fitting in said socket whereby the central bearing member in the casing, a carrier supported by and engaged in said bearing member, a post fitted in said carrier for vertical reciprocation and held against relative rotation, track elements disposed radially upon the carrier at the margin of the same, and display segments having their upper ends pivotally supported by the upper end of the post and their lower ends resting on the carrier and constructed to engage and be guided by said track elements.

5. A signal device comprising ,a casing having an annular flange on its inner side wall and provided with a central bearing, a carrier disk having a pendent hub engaged in and supported by said bearing member and having its margin resting on the flange of the casing, a post mounted in said hub and held against relative rotation, a plurality of display segments having their upper ends pivotally supported by the upper end of the post and their lower ends slidably resting on the margin of the carrier disk, and means for yieldably holding the post in raised position.

6. A signal comprising a casing, a post mounted therein, means for yieldably holding the post in raised position, a plurality of segments having theirupper ends pivotally supported by the upper end of the post and their outer ends slidably supported within the casing, and packing strips disposed between the opposed side edges of adjacent segments and engaged in grooves in said edges. 7. A signal comprising a casing, apost mounted therein, means for yieldably holding the post in raised position, a plurality of display segments having their upper ends pivotally supported by the upper end of the post and their outer ends slidablymounted within the casing, a cap plate secured upon the upper end of the post and extending over the upper ends of all the segments, and a packing member fitted between the under side of the cap plate and the upper ends of all the segments.

ends slidably supported within the casing, a cap ring secured on the casing and projecting over the lower ends of the segments, and a packing member on the under side of said cap ring engaging over the lower ends of the segments.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

FRANK CLAMPETT VOGLER. [L. 8.1

8. A signal comprising a casing, a post mounted centrally in the casing, means for yieldably supporting the post in raised position, a plurality of display segments having their upper ends pivotally supported by the upper end of thepost and'their outer 

